Textile treating apparatus

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to a textile-treating apparatus wherein the textile is conveyed through a chamber and appropriately treated therein. The textile is conveyed along a circular path within the chamber and in one embodiment includes an endless conveying means arranged to form a screw thread surface upon which the textile is moved through the chamber. Alternatively, the textile may be conveyed along a grid surface by means of an oscillating movement thereof, again in a circular path.

0 United States Patent 1 1 3,580,447

[72] Inventors Eduard Kusters; [56] References Cited Max Kruger, Krefeld, Germany UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 P 826990 1,849,237 3/1932 Kinney 34/147x [22] F1led May 22, 1969 2,559,420 7/1951 Frenkel 34/155X [45] Patented May 25, 1971 [73] Assignee Eduard Kusters Maschinenfabrik 2,624,573 1/1953 R1ce 34/155X Kreteld German 3,343,812 9/1967 Moulton.. 34/164X [32] mom Jun 1 Y 3,412,476 11/1968 Astrom 34/147 y 3,443,505 5/1969 Kaufman 34/147X [33] Germany 3 1 243 FOREIGN PATENTS Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 1,008,331 10/ 1965 Great Britain 226/ 1 18 May 1968 now abandoned Primary ExaminerAllen N Knowles Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. I 729,748 y 1968 now abandoned. Attorney Kenyon & Kenyon, Reilly, Carr & Chapm ABSTRACT: This disclosure relates to a textile-treating apparatus wherein the textile is conveyed through a chamber and appropriately treated therein. The textile is conveyed [54] gg i QPPARATUS along a circular path within the chamber and in one embodialms rawmg ment includes an endless conveying means arranged to form a [52] US. Cl 226/119 screw thread surface upon which the textile is moved through [51] Int. Cl B6511 .17/42 the chamber. Alternatively, the textile may be conveyed along [50] Field of Search 226/118, a grid surface by means of an oscillating movement thereof,

again in a circular path.

PATENIEU W25 SHEET 02 0F 10 mum/r095 EDA/FIRE. KUSTERS MAX KRUGER H r TOR/V5 V5 PATENTED HAYZS :97:

A TTORA/E Vs PATENTEU HAY25 I971 sum us 0F 10 PATENTEDHAYZSIQYI 35801447 SHEET 100$ 10 TEXTILE TREATING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to an apparatus for treating textiles and more particularly to one wherein the textile is conveyed along a circular path through the treating apparatus.

During the manufacture of textile materials, it is frequently necessary to subject the material to a prolonged treatment in a chamber as in the case when the material is washed, steamed or dried. When treating delicate textile breadths such as tubular fabric, tricot, or the like, the process must be conducted without subjecting the material to any detrimental stress. It is particularly necessary to avoid subjecting the material to undue tensile stress during the conveying of the material under treatment.

Included in the prior art is a lifting-beam system which has been proposed to satisfy the above requirements. In such a system, rakes are moved in the direction of the material to cause the material to be moved through the system. When the material is being washed, the rakes carry the material forward and through the liquid. The rakes are then raised and retracted in order to repeat the immersion and forward movement of the material. Lifting-beam systems have also been employed in textile drying equipment, but in both this construction as well as in the washing construction, the apparatus is of an excessive size and therefore limited in application.

In order to reduce the size of the treating apparatus, it has previously been proposed to guide the material through a chamber in concentric loops. However, this system subjects the material to undue tensile stresses and is accordingly not adapted to handle delicate textile breadths.

In a washing apparatus for untreated wool, it has also been proposed to cause the forward movement of the material by means of vibrating the supporting screen. In a similar manner, it has also been proposed to utilize an oscillating trough during the treatment of packed yarn. Each of these prior art devices contains limitations either in their excessive size and cost, or in the manner in which they move the textile under treatment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention herein disclosed, in general, provides a conveying means upon which the textile to be treated is passed through a chamber along a circular path. By the presently disclosed means, an extended conveying path is provided in a confined area which further does not cause any undesired stressing of the textile under treatment.

In one embodiment, an annular disc is provided by means of an endless conveyor belt which has the ends thereof adjacently spaced to form a circular path. Rollers are disposed throughout the disc configuration to separate the upper and lower surfaces of the endless belts. The endless belt is driven by a drive member coupled to each of the end rollers. The rol lers are radially disposed and may further include additional supporting rollers engaging the lower portion of the endless belt. The additional supporting rollers are interposed between the angles formed by the adjacent rollers supporting the upper portion of the endless belt. This arrangement aids in maintaining the lower portion of the endless belt in a rigid plane.

In this embodiment, the material is introduced onto the conveying means from a point below the endless belt and between the spacing of the adjacent end rollers. In this manner, several layers of textile may be carried by the conveying means. Each layer is then successively removed from the top upon the treatment being completed. Treating several layers simultaneously increases the efficiency of the apparatus as well as allowing for longer periods of treatment without any resultant increase in the size of the treating apparatus. If desired, the material could alternatively be introduced onto the conveying means from the top and removed from the bottom in lieu of that previously described.

The conveying means in another embodiment may be provided in the form of a screw thread surface. In this manner, the textile is conveyed along a spiral path and carried upward through the treating chamber.

In another embodiment, a'supporting lower surface is provided in the form of a lifting-beam grid. The lifting beams form concentric annular rails which have a joint radial point of separation. The lift drive is effected by a circular back-andforth oscillation of the grid upon which rests the material under treatment. The vibrating lifting rails may be alternated with fixed rails. Preferably, alternate rails are provided with vibratory movement in a vertical direction and the adjacent rails are provided with vibratory movement in a substantially horizontal direction. The rail surfaces may also be upwardly bent into a screw surface so that there is no interference at adjacent ends of the rails. Again, an undisturbed feed of the material may be provided from below and the material may be conveyed through the apparatus in a plurality of layers. The rail grid may also be arranged in a multiple screw-thread-type surface in order to increase the efficiency of the apparatus without resulting in any increase in the size of the apparatus. The rails may also be of a width sufficient to accommodate simultaneous treatment of several breadths of material adjacently spaced.

The apparatus may further be provided with a folding means to facilitate folding the material as it is introduced onto the grid. By conveying the material in a folded condition, the contact period for the material within the treating chamber'is increased since the effective conveying speed is reduced.

In still another embodiment, the conveying surface may be provided with a vibratory or oscillating type of motion to cause a forward movement of the material being treated.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a material-conveying means which provides a relatively long path of travel while the apparatus is maintained in a compact size.

It is another object of this invention to provide a conveying means for carrying a material in a substantially circular path.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in accordance with the accompanying draw- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a perspective view of the annular conveying means utilizing an endless belt as disclosed herein; 7

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the adjacently spaced end rollers of the annular conveying means of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment including lifting rails in a single-screwthread surface;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the material entry and exit means of the embodiment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4a is a fragmentary elevation view illustrating the lifting rails mounted on radial arms;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment including a multiple-screw-thread conveying surface;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment including oscillating conveying means;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment adapted to treat a pair of textile breadths simultaneously;

FIG. 8 is a partial elevation view illustrating a sealed material entry and exit chamber;

FIG. 9 is a partial elevation view of the apparatus provided with a lifting-rail grid;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment adapted to treat a pair of adjacently spaced textile breadths; and

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view, partly in cross section, of the embodiment of FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of the conveying means is illustrated utilizing an endless belt. The endless belt 1 is provided as a supporting surface to convey a textile breadth through a treating chamber. The endless belt is arranged to form an annular disc which has a radial opening 2 between its ends. Radially disposed rollers 3 are interposed between the top and bottom surfaces of the endless belt I. The belt is driven in the direction of arrow 6 by means of the end rollers 3' which are coupled to a drive motor (not shown). The lower portion of the belt is supported by the radially disposed rollers 4 which are staggered between the rollers 3 but below the lower portion of the belt I.

With reference to FIG. 2, the textile breadth or other material is introduced into the apparatus from below the belt and through the radial opening 2. The material 15 passes over the left hand roller 3 as indicated. The material 15 is conveyed in a multitude of layers of which the uppermost layer is removed in the direction of the arrow 8. A multiple of layers is selected in accordance with the time period it is desired to leave the material in the treating chamber. It is noted, that if desired, it is possible to operate the conveying means with the material being introduced through the top and the rollers being operated in a direction opposite that previously described. Also, the endless belt may be provided with radial bars in the form of a link conveyor along the inside of the endless loop. In such a case, the bars are guided along annular rails extending in the direction of the conveying path.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 4a, the annular disc is upwardly bent to form a single screw thread or helical surface having the ends thereof slightly overlapping. The annular disc consists of a plurality of concentric rails 9 and 10 alternately attached to the radial arms Ill and I2 to form a lifting grid (FIG. 4a). A drive means is coupled to one or more of the radial arms 11 and 12. As illustrated, a drive means 14 is provided for driving radial arm 12 and another drive means 13 is provided for driving radial arm 11. Each of the drive means 13 and 14 is operated in synchronism with the other, with each providing a drive for one-half the total movement of the lifting grid. Each radial arm is thereby driven toward the other for one-half of the total movement. As illustrated, the lifting grid comprises a plurality of the concentric rails 9 and 10 which extend along a curved path. The lifting grid is accordingly driven back and forth as well as vertically with the resultant movement tracing the form of a quadrangle. This configuration has been found desirable when treating a delicate textile breadth. Here by means of the radial arms II and 12 being driven by their respective drives 13 and 14 in an oscillating manner, rails 9 and 10 are caused to be oscillated and move the textile under treatment. It is noted that motions other than the one described are possible, or that different drive couplings may be provided, or that only one set of the rails, such as rails 10, may be caused to oscillate back and forth.

The textile breadth 15 is introduced onto the grid by passing it over roller 17 in the direction of arrow 16. The breadth is passed along the screw-type surface provided by the rail grid and is ultimately removed therefrom in the direction of arrow 18. As previously discussed, a plurality of layers may be conveyed simultaneously over the grid surface. As illustrated, it is preferred that the textile is introduced onto and discharged from the conveying surface of the rail grid in a tangential direction. Here again it is possible to move the material under treatment in a direction opposite to that described.

With reference to FIG. 5, therein is illustrated a further adaption of the previously discussed embodiment. The lifting rails 9 and 10 have been extended and continued to form a multiple-screw-thread surface conveying means which has the same drive means as discussed in FIG. 3. Herein, however, the material 15 is introduced onto the conveying means via a folder member l9. The folder 119 pivotally rotates as indicated by the arrows and causes the material to be folded into layers onto the grid. The folded material is advantageous in that the time period in which the material is maintained in the treating chamber is extended and its exposed area has been effectively increased. Herein again the material may be conveyed in an opposite direction with the folder 19 being moved to the opposite side and above the beginning of the screw surface.

A still further embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 6. Here a circular plate 20 is upwardly bent into the form ofa multiplescrew-thread surface. The plate 20 is attached to the cylindrical core 21 and caused to turn in conjunction therewith. The cylindrical core 21 is supported by the bottom plate 22 which has attached thereto the elastic members 23. The elastic members 23 are laminated springs which are adapted to swing back and forth. The elastic members 23 swing with a back-and forth direction about a vertical axis and cause the screw surface to oscillate in a rotary direction as well as vertically. This oscillation causes the textile material to be conveyed through the apparatus.

A disc 24 is provided below the first turn of the screw surface. Disc 24 in combination with the exterior jacket 30, forms an enclosed housing wherein the screw surface rotates and provides a conveying means. Means are provided at 25 to permit entry of the textile to be treated as well as at 26 to permit the exit of the treated textile from the apparatus. It is again noted that the preferred direction of operation is as illustrated. However, satisfactory results can be obtained by operating in the opposite direction.

In lieu of the rail grid previously discussed, the screw or helical surface may consist of adjacently spaced tubes 27 which are supported on arms 28 (FIG. 6). The arms 28 are fastened to the cylindrical core 21 and rotate in conjunction therewith. The core 21 as illustrated in FIG. 6 extends below the bottom plate 24 and housing 30. Accordingly, the cylindrical core 21 is provided with seals and is axially adjustable.

The leaf springs 23 which oscillate the bottom plate 22 are provided either with an individual or a common exitation drive means. A common exitation means is illustrated and is connected to a joint drive via bevel gears 32 and 33 which operate in synchronism. Because of the vibratory motion, the screw surface is subjected to an oscillating motion which causes the textile breadth to be moved upward therealong in the direction of the arrows 25 and 26. The vibrators oscillate and move in the direction of the double arrow 34. The material 15 is located on the screw surface either in a single layer or in multiple layers on top of one another. They may also be folded in a manner previously discussed. The speed at which the material is conveyed may be adjusted and controlled. Similar regulating means are provided for the amplitude and frequency of vibration.

The vibratory exitation may be utilized to convey the material 15. Likewise the resonance effect may be advantageously employed. When the latter is utilized, it,is desirable to convey the material along the rising resonance line.

The apparatus of FIG. 7 has been modified to facilitate simultaneous treatment of a pair of textile breadths. In this embodiment, a pair of treating chambers are disposed upon one another, or a pair of conveying means may be provided within a single chamber. A first breadth is illustrated at whereas the second is illustrated at 15''. The helical or screw surfaces are the lifting grids as illustrated in FIG. 2. The drive unit is common for each conveying means with a connecting link being provided to the upper level via rods 34.

FIG. 8 illustrates the manner in which the folder 19, at the material entry end, may be provided with a front seal. The rolls 35 are contiguously mounted adjacent the ends of the casing thereby providing a seal. A similar sealing may be provided at the material discharge end such as indicated at 36. If it is desired to convey the material 25 from top to bottom, the folder 19 is moved into the upper sealed chamber and the operation of the machine reversed.

FIG. 9 illustrates a multiple-screw-thread surface in the form of a rail-lifting grid within the chamber 37 which is sealed except for the inlet and outlet openings. Stationary rails 38 are disposed on arms 39 and are attached to the inside wall of the chamber. The rails 40 which are intended to effect movement of the textile are located on the arms M which are in turn fixed to a center support 42. The support 42 is moved with a back and forth motion via the hydraulic cylinder 43. The lower end of the support is also provided with a hydraulic cylinder 44 for lifting and lowering the material under treatment.

Referring now to FIGS. and 11, there is illustrated a steaming chamber 50 containing a multiple-screw-thread conveying surface 60. The conveying surface 60 is ofa width sufficient to accommodate a pair of adjacently spaced textile breadths l5 and is of the type previously described containing the lifting grid. The textile is introduced into the chamber 50 via the entrance rollers 51 which feed the material onto stationary rails within the chamber 50. The material is then passed onto the rail-lifting or conveying surface 60 and carried upwardly through the chamber 50. The outer annular portion of the chamber about which the material .is conveyed has steam introduced in the bottom thereof through conduits 52. Herein again the material may be folded in a manner previously described onto the conveying surface as indicated at 53. After the textile has been sufficiently treated, it is removed from the chamber across the top roller 54. Subsequently, the material is pulled downward by means of rollers 55.

By means of the chamber construction and with the textile being conveyed over the steam conduits in the outer portion, condensate is precluded from accumulating on the material. The chamber is also provided with appropriate insulation to reduce heat losses.

Although the foregoing description has been directed to the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is noted that other variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for applying a predetermined treatment to an elongated breadth of textile material or the like which comprises:

a. a chamber wherein the predetermined treatment is applied to the textile having a lower opening into which the textile is introduced and an upper opening wherefrom the textile is removed;

. means for introducing the textile into said lower opening of said chamber;

c. means for conveying the textile through said chamber while it is being processed in accordance with the predetermined treatment, said conveying means being disposed within said chamber along a substantially circular path and including a surface for supporting the textile, said conveying means having one end thereof disposed adjacent to said lower chamber opening and the other end thereof adjacent said upper chamber opening;

d. means for vibrating said supporting surface conveying the textile under treatment in the direction of the path of travel of the textile so that the vibrating motion imparted to said surfacecauses the textile to be conveyed from said lower chamber opening to said upper chamber opening; and

e. means for removing the treated textile from said conveying means and out of said upper opening of said chamber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conveying means disposed along a substantially circular path has the ends thereof overlapping, thereby forming a helical conveying surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conveying means is adapted to simultaneously convey a plurality of textile layers through said chamber.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conveying means is of a width sufficient to convey a pair of adjacently spaced textile breadths through said chamber.

5. An apparatus for applying a predetermined treatment to an elongated textile material or the like which comprises:

a. a chamber wherein the predetermined treatment is applied to the textile;

b. means for introducing the textile into said chamber;

0. means for conveying the textile through said chamber while it is being processed in accordance with the predetermined treatment, said conveying means being disposed within said chamber along a substantially circular path and including a horizontally disposed endless belt with its adjacent ends spaced apart from one another in the form of an annular disc having a radial opening between said adjacent ends, a plurality of roller members interposed between the upper and lower surfaces of said endless belt, and means for driving said endless belt along said roller members; and

d. means for removing the treated textile from said conveying means and out of said chamber.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said driving means comprises a drive motor coupled to the roller members interposed at the adjacent ends of said endless belt.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 which further includes a plurality of roller members disposed below said lower surface of said endless belt thereby producing a support base for the latter.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said plurality of roller members disposed between adjacent roller members interposed between said upper and lower surfaces of said endless belt.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the adjacently spaced ends of said endless belt are spaced at a distance sufficient to allow the textile being treated to be passed on to said endless belt from a point below the lower surface of said endless belt.

10. An apparatus for applying a predetermined treatment to an elongated textile material or the like which comprises:

a. a chamber wherein the predetermined treatment is applied to the textile;

b. means for introducing the textile into said chamber;

c. means for conveying the textile through said chamber while it is being processed in accordance with the predetermined treatment, said conveying means being disposed within said chamber along a substantially circular path and including a plurality of concentric annular rails adjacently spaced from one another and oscillating means coupled to said annular rails so that the oscillatory motion imparted to said annular rails causes the textile to be conveyed therealong; and

d. means for removing the treated textile from said conveying means and out of said chamber.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said oscillating means imparts a compound motion to said annular rails in the form of a horizontal and vertical excitation.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said concentric annular rails have the ends thereof overlapping, thereby forming a helical conveying surface.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said concentric annular rails comprise a plurality of adjacently spaced stationary rails, a plurality of movable rails interposed between said adjacently spaced stationary rails, and a plurality of radial arms for supporting each of said stationary and movable rails.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said radial arms supporting said movable rails include attached thereto a horizontally and vertically oscillating drive means to provide an excitation source for said movable rails.

15. An apparatus for applying a predetermined treatment to an elongated textile material or the like which comprises:

a. a chamber wherein the predetermined treatment is applied to the textile;

b. means for introducing the textile into said chamber;

0. means for conveying the textile through said chamber while it is being processed in accordance with the predetermined treatment, said conveying means being disposed within said chamber along a substantially circular path and including a center rotatable support post, a helical conveying surface attached to said support post, and vibratory drive means mounted to cause vibrationof said helical conveying surface whereby the textile is caused to be conveyed therealong; and

d. means for removing the treated textile from said conveying means and out of said chamber.

16 An apparatus for applying a predetermined treatment to an elongated textile material or the like which comprises:

a. a chamber wherein the predetermined treatment is applied to the textile;

b. means for introducing the textile into said chamber;

while it is being processed in accordance with the predetermined treatment, said conveying means being disposed within said chamber along a substantially circular path and including a surface for supporting the textile;

d. means for vibrating said supporting surface conveying the textile under treatment so that the vibrating motion imparted to said surface causes the textile to be conveyed therealong;

e. means for removing the treated textile from said conveying means and out of said chamber;

. folding means disposed adjacent said conveying means across which the textile to be treated is passed prior to being disposed on said conveying means; and

g. oscillating drive means coupled to said folding means to cause the textile passed thereacross to be folded as it is disposed on said conveying means.

17 An apparatus for applying a predetermined treatment to an elongated textile material or the like which comprises:

c. means for conveying the textile through said chamber a. a chamber wherein the predetermined treatment is applied to the textile;

b. means for introducing the textile into said chamber;

c. means for conveying the textile through said chamber while it is being processed in accordance with the predetermined treatment, said conveying means being disposed within said chamber along a substantially circular path and including a surface for supporting the textile;

d. means for vibrating said supporting surface conveying the textile under treatment so that the vibrating motion imparted to said surface causes the textile to be conveyed therealong; and

e. means for removing the treated textile-from said introducing means is disposed adjacent said conveying means and feeds the textile thereon in a tangential direction, and said removing means is disposed adjacent said conveying means and removes the textile therefrom in a tangential direction.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3a5 a '7 Dated y 5, 97

Inventor) Eduard Kusters; Max Kruger It is certified that error appears in the. above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 6, line 15, after "disposed" insert below said lower surface of said endless belt are radially disposed Column 8, line 13, after "said" insert conveying means and out of said chamber, wherein said Signed and sealed this 1mm day of March 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM ac-105000459) USCOMM-DC wave-ps9 a UIS, GOVEWNHENT PRINTING OFFCE I955 0-35533 

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conveying means disposed along a substantially circular path has the ends thereof overlapping, thereby forming a helical conveying surface.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conveying means is adapted to simultaneously convey a plurality of textile layers through said chamber.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conveying means is of a width sufficient to convey a pair of adjacently spaced textile breadths through said chamber.
 5. An apparatus for applying a predetermined treatment to an elongated textile material or the like which comprises: a. a chamber wherein the predetermined treatment is applied to the textile; b. means for introducing the textile into said chamber; c. means for conveying the textile through said chamber while it is being processed in accordance with the predetermined treatment, said conveying means being disposed within said chamber along a substantially circular path and including a horizontally disposed endless belt with its adjacent ends spaced apart from one another in the form of an annular disc having a radial opening between said adjacent ends, a plurality of roller members interposed between the upper and lower surfaces of said endless belt, and means for driving said endless belt along said roller members; and d. means for removing the treated textile from said conveying means and out of said chamber.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said driving means comprises a drive motor coupled to the roller members interposed at the adjacent ends of said endless belt.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5 which further includes a plurality of roller members disposed below said lower surface of said endless belt thereby producing a support base for the latter.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said plurality of roller members disposed between adjacent roller members interposed between said upper and lower surfaces of said endless belt.
 9. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the adjacently spaced ends of said endless belt are spaced at a distance sufficient to allow the textile being treated to be passed on to said endless belt from a point below the lower surface of said endless belt.
 10. An apparatus for applying a predetermined treatment to an elongated textile material or the like which comprises: a. a chamber wherein the predetermined treatment is applied to the textile; b. means for introducing the textile into said chamber; c. means for conveying the textile through said chamber while it is being processed in accordance with the predetermined treatment, said conveying means being disposed within said chamber along a substantially circular path and including a plurality of concentric annular rails adjacently spaced from one another and oscillating means coupled to said annular rails so that the oscillatory motion imparted to said annular rails causes the textile to be conveyed therealong; and d. means for removing the treated textile from said conveying means and out of said chamber.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said oscillating means imparts a compound motion to said annular rails in the form of a horizoNtal and vertical excitation.
 12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said concentric annular rails have the ends thereof overlapping, thereby forming a helical conveying surface.
 13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said concentric annular rails comprise a plurality of adjacently spaced stationary rails, a plurality of movable rails interposed between said adjacently spaced stationary rails, and a plurality of radial arms for supporting each of said stationary and movable rails.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said radial arms supporting said movable rails include attached thereto a horizontally and vertically oscillating drive means to provide an excitation source for said movable rails.
 15. An apparatus for applying a predetermined treatment to an elongated textile material or the like which comprises: a. a chamber wherein the predetermined treatment is applied to the textile; b. means for introducing the textile into said chamber; c. means for conveying the textile through said chamber while it is being processed in accordance with the predetermined treatment, said conveying means being disposed within said chamber along a substantially circular path and including a center rotatable support post, a helical conveying surface attached to said support post, and vibratory drive means mounted to cause vibration of said helical conveying surface whereby the textile is caused to be conveyed therealong; and d. means for removing the treated textile from said conveying means and out of said chamber. 16 An apparatus for applying a predetermined treatment to an elongated textile material or the like which comprises: a. a chamber wherein the predetermined treatment is applied to the textile; b. means for introducing the textile into said chamber; c. means for conveying the textile through said chamber while it is being processed in accordance with the predetermined treatment, said conveying means being disposed within said chamber along a substantially circular path and including a surface for supporting the textile; d. means for vibrating said supporting surface conveying the textile under treatment so that the vibrating motion imparted to said surface causes the textile to be conveyed therealong; e. means for removing the treated textile from said conveying means and out of said chamber; f. folding means disposed adjacent said conveying means across which the textile to be treated is passed prior to being disposed on said conveying means; and g. oscillating drive means coupled to said folding means to cause the textile passed thereacross to be folded as it is disposed on said conveying means.
 17. An apparatus for applying a predetermined treatment to an elongated textile material or the like which comprises: a. a chamber wherein the predetermined treatment is applied to the textile; b. means for introducing the textile into said chamber; c. means for conveying the textile through said chamber while it is being processed in accordance with the predetermined treatment, said conveying means being disposed within said chamber along a substantially circular path and including a surface for supporting the textile; d. means for vibrating said supporting surface conveying the textile under treatment so that the vibrating motion imparted to said surface causes the textile to be conveyed therealong; and e. means for removing the treated textile from said introducing means is disposed adjacent said conveying means and feeds the textile thereon in a tangential direction, and said removing means is disposed adjacent said conveying means and removes the textile therefrom in a tangential direction. 